Colchester United defender Mandela Egbo says they will go into their FA Cup first-round tie at Shrewsbury full of confidence.

U's head to the League One club on Saturday, having enjoyed back-to-back wins on the road in their own League Two campaign.

And right-back Egbo, 26, feels those successes at Grimsby and Accrington Stanley have stood them in good stead as they switch focus to knockout football.

"Wins breed confidence, so we're a confident bunch going into this game," he said.

"We've had a good couple of results off the back of an up and down week. We go into it full of confidence.

"We've been talking about heart and desire these last couple of games and that will take us far.

"It seems like it has done these last couple of games, throwing our bodies on the line, doing everything for wins and last game a clean sheet as well.

"That's not just me and the back four, it's the lads in front of us as well, everybody's getting themselves in there, getting blocks and heads in the way of things.

"It's helping, it helps a whole bunch when you're fighting for a cause, being three points or in this case on Saturday, the next round."

Egbo admitted the situation surrounding Matt Etherington over the past week had not been ideal, but the players were fully concentrated on what they need to do.

"That's what we're paid for as players, to go out there and do what we do on the pitch," he added.

"Everything else going on around the club we leave to others to sort out.

"As a bunch of lads we have to get together and really just fight for each other.

"Especially in this league, that will take you a long way. As we do that, hopefully we'll find a way to move up the table.

"He knows that as a professional I'm going to fight for whoever is in the job, fight for myself and the badge I'm wearing.

"I would like to think supporters would see that out on the pitch, that I'm giving 100 per cent. It doesn't change, who's in charge."

Shrewsbury sit 25 places above U's in the football pyramid, but Egbo believes they can claim an upset.

"It will be a good test and it will breed confidence if we get ourselves into the next round as well," he said.

"Hopefully we can get that done. As players we're not looking at it as they're any better than us, above us in the league above.

"Every time we step over the white line as professionals we're trying to win the game, for three points or in this instance to get us into the next round.

"It won't really matter to us. They'll be a good test, of course, and we'll be thriving."

Should U's be successful in their third away game of the week, Egbo admits they would like to go on a run in the FA Cup.

"I'm a football fan myself, first and foremost," he added.

"I play, but before I ever played I was a fan, so I know how much it means to go and win games, especially in cup competitions, especially FA Cup, it's a magical cup.

"I don't want to sound like there's any promises, but we'll be looking to go as far as we can in the competition, of course.

"Why wouldn't we? It's great for our supporters to enjoy, not just three points on a weekend in a league game but also a bit of a run.

"Why not? We'll do everything we can and see where that takes us. Hopefully it starts on the weekend.

"It's definitely magical to me, so hopefully we can go out there and enjoy ourselves on Saturday and going forward."

*Mandela Egbo was talking to BBC Essex.